Yesterday, the House of Delegates passed a budget that expands Medicaid in Virginia. Today, Senate Republicans refused to give that budget a hearing. As a result, we are missing out on a whole range of opportunities to not only address our ongoing healthcare crisis but also to fund other important priorities, including education and public safety.

Senate Republicans are dragging their feet, and very soon our localities are going to feel the full impact of that as they go about building out their budgets for the coming fiscal year. Hiring decisions will be placed on hold, salaries will remain stagnant, and local leaders will not be able to make good spending decisions in the absence of the full picture in terms of the state’s share of funding for different priorities.

House Republicans have come to terms with the need to address healthcare access. It is time for Senate Republicans to come to terms with this, too. Crafting a budget is the most vital role that we have as a legislature. Senate Republicans have got to stop stalling this process and come to the table.